Wrapper for bread and the like

ABSTRACT

A &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;square bottom&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; bag or wrapper for use in wrapping bread and the like. The wrapper is formed from a sleeve which has an open end and a closed end. The sleeve is folded outwardly upon itself along a fold line which is disposed adjacent and parallel to the closed end and the side edges of the folded portion are secured to adjacent portions of the sleeve whereby when said bag is opened in use, the end wall has a generally square configuration. The end wall is retained in the square configuration by triangular segments which are integrally connected to the end wall and extend upwardly therefrom in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to the side walls of the wrapper. The triangular segments are secured to the side walls of the wrapper.

United States Patent Blackman [451 Aug. 19, 1975 WRAPPER FOR BREAD AND THE LIKE 22 Filed: Sept. 20, 1973 211 Appl. No: 399,070

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/87 B; 229/58 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 33/00 [58] Field of Search 229/53, 58, 60, 57, 87 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,435,736 4/1969 Reiche 229/60 3,485,439 12/1969 Shrum 229/58 3,647,134 3/1972 Carnevalino 229/53 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 668,276 8/1963 Canada 229/57 Primary Examiner-William 1.. Price Assistant Examiner-Douglas B. Farrow Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fet'herstonhaugh & Co.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A square bottom" bag or wrapper for use in wrapping bread and the like. The wrapper is formed from a sleeve which has an open end and a closed end. The sleeve is folded outwardly upon itself along a fold line which is disposed adjacent and parallel to the closed end and the side edges of the folded portion are secured to adjacent portions of the sleeve whereby when said bag is opened in use, the end wall has a generally square configuration. The end wall is retained in the square configuration by triangular segments which are integrally connected to the end wall and extend upwardly therefrom in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to the side walls of the wrapper. The

triangular segments are secured to the side walls of the wrapper.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WRAPPER roa BREAD. nn relegate v This invention relates to the mantifactur eiof theso called square bottom" bags. In particular. the in veh} tion relates to an improved square bottomed wrapper of the type used for wrapping bread and the like. 7

The term squarebottom wrapper is used to describe a wrapper for bread and the like of the type which has an end wall or bottom wall which is generally square and at right angles to the side walls of the wrapper.

Bread wrappers are presently made from heat sealable plastic material and there are two principal types of wrapper now in use. The most common wrapper presently in use is one which employs a conventional gusset end wall construction. In this construction the end wall is formed by folding the end wall forming portion of the blank inwardly between opposite side wall forming portions of the blank and heat sealing the edges of the bottom wall forming portions in this inwardly folded form. When this package is loaded with bread or the like, the end wall is not held in a generally square configuration and it is not classified as a square bottom wrapper. The end wall of this known wrapper has so-called rabbit ears" projecting outwardly from opposite sides when loaded. In view of the fact that a large proportion of the bread presently sold is made in loaves which have a generally square end, the existing package does not serve to retain the bread in its square configuration. As a result. the bread contained in these wrappers cannot be neatly arranged on display shelves.

A modified version of the conventional gusset structure has been developed in an attempt to provide a square end construction. In this modified construction, the blank is formed as previously described so that the bottom or end wall forming portion is tucked in between the ends of the side wall forming portions of the blank. The blank is then hot sealed and simultaneously cut from a continuous web. In cutting the blank, corner portions of the folded blank are cut at an angle of about 45 to the closed end of the blank. The angularly cut corners are heat sealed when cut so that each of the sections of the bottom wall panel is welded to an adjacent side wall forming panel along the inclined edge. One of the problems encountered with this structure is that it is important to ensure that the adjacent bottom wall forming panels are not welded to one another during heat sealing. To avoid this difficulty, it is quite common practice to apply a coating of a release agent to the overlapping faces of the end wall forming panels before they are cut and heat sealed. If the release agent is not applied, it is necessary to break the seal which is formed during heat sealing between the overlying faces of the bottom wall forming panel. While this structure does form a generally square end wall. it is difficult to manufacture and adds considerably to the cost of the wrapper. The cost of the lacquer is a substantial factor in this method of protection and the cost of developing and producing suitable machinery to apply the lacquer also add to the production costs. In addition. it has been found that the seal in the area at the intersection of the side wall seal and the obliquely inclined end wall seals tends to fail very readily and as a result, the bread contained within the wrapperv candeterioriate rapidly. A further disadvantage to the .use of this method is that the steps involved in making the angled cut are costly to implement. It is necessary to adapt the machinery to made and this adds considerably to the costs involved in the production of suitable apparatus.

The bag type wrappers of the present invention have considerable advantages over the other wrappers in that they can be very easily closed by bunching together the open end of the wrapper and applying any one of the quick-lock devices which are presently in use.

The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art described above and provides a wrapper for bread and the like which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use and which, when in use, provides a square end wall configuration which is rugged and reliable.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wrapper for bread and the like having a generally square closed end wall configuration in use comprises a sleeve having an open end and a' elosed'end, the closed end of the sleeve is folded outwardly upon itself along a fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to the closed end and the edges of the folded over portion are secured to the edges of the side wall forming panels of the .bag.

When the wrapper of the present invention is in use, it comprises a sleeve which has a substantially rectangular end wall panel and side wall forming panels extending outwardly from the end wall. A pair of triangular shaped segments of double thickness extend outwardly from opposite side edges of the end wall in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to the side wall panels. Each of the triangular sections are secured to the side wall panels in their outwardly overly ing relationship.

The present invention also provides an improved method of making a wrapper for bread and the like from a continuous web of heat scalable plastic material which comprises the steps of folding the web along a first fold line extending parallel to the side edges of the web so as to position two thicknesses of the web in an overlapping face-to-face relationship. The folded web isthen further folded along a second fold line extending parallel to the first fold line so as to position a portion of the web disposed between the first and second fold line in an overlapping face-to-face relationship with respect to the remainder of the web. The further folded web is then simultaneously cut and heat sealed so as to detach a unitary wrapper from the continuous web.

The invention will be more clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which a web of material is formed to provide' the wrapper of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a wrapper according to the present invention when in a knocked-down configuration;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the closed end of a wrapper according to an embodiment of the present invention when in an erect configuration;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned pictorial view of a portion of an erect wrapper according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view ofa blank such as that illustrated in FIG. 3 opened out to show the various fold lines.

Referring to FIG. I of the drawings, the reference numeral It) refers generally to a web of heat scalable thermoplastic material such as a polyolefin, such as polyethylene, from which a wrapper according to the present invention is produced. The web is a generally flat sheet which has edges 12, and 14. In the first forming operation, the web is folded along a first fold line 16 so that the edge 14 is disposed adjacent the edge 12. Folding of the web is carried out in a well known manner. During further forming of the web, it is folded along the second fold line 18 so that the portions of the web extending between the fold lines 16 and 18 is folded into an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to the remainder of the web. When the web is thus folded, a wrapper 20 is formed by heat sealing and simultaneously severing the edges 22. It will be understood that the edge 22 which remains on the web after removal of one wrapper will be heat sealed when the preceding wrapper is removed.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that each wrapper consists ofa pair of side wall forming panels 24 and 26 which are sealed along edges 22. The bottom or end wall forming panels 28 are only secured at their side edges to the panels 24 and 26 so that the remaining portions of the panels 28 may move relative to the panels 24 and 26. It will be understood that there are two end wall forming panels 28 arranged in a faceto-face relationship as a result of folding along the fold line 18.

The wrapper according to the embodiment of the present invention may be opened out for loading by means of the conventional equipment which is presently available for this purpose.

The closed end of an open wrapper is pictorially illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. It will be seen that the end of the wrapper is substantially square with respect to the side wall forming panels. The two end wall forming panels 28 open out along the fold line 16 to form a substantially flat end wall which is held in position by triangular portions 30 which are disposed in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to the side portions of the panels 24 and 26.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the triangular portions 30 have a double thickness. The manner in which the blank is folded will be more clearly under stood with reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings which, as previously indicated, illustrate the various fold lines which are formed in opening out the bag. The panels 24 and 26 are connected to the end wall forming portion along fold lines 18 and the panels 28 are connected to one another along fold line 16. The square end of the wrapper or bag is defined by the center portions of the fold lines 18 and the fold lines 19 (see also FIG. 3).

When the blank of FIG. 5 is folded to the position shown in FIG. 3, the end portions 18a of the fold lines 18 overlie the fold line 19. The triangular sections 30 are formed from portions 30a and 30h folded along fold lines 32.

It has been found that during the loading operation, the closed end of the wrapper will move automatically from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 to configuration sufficiently close to that shown in FIG. 3 to form a substantially square closed end wall.

It will be seen that the triangular shaped flaps which are disposed outwardly from the side walls when the package is assembled serve to reinforce the closed end and prevent the edges of the side walls from flaring out wardly when the package is loaded.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the wrapper of the present invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. It is not necessary to use a release agent at any stage during the formation of the package due to the fact that the seals which are made are permanent.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the end wall portion bounded by the fold lines 18 and 19 may be substantially rectangular.

The term square end or square bottom is not limited to a structure wherein the end or bottom wall is a perfect square. It is used freely in the industry to define a structure which has clearly defined corners and which is generally square or rectangular.

It will also be apparent that a bag or wrapper according to the present invention may be used to advantage in enclosing merchandise other than bread.

In addition, it will be understood that the bag may be made from a wide range of plastics materials depending upon the intended use.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A wrapper for bread and the like having a generally square closed end wall configuration in use comprising, a sleeve consisting of a pair of panels disposed in face-to-face relationship and connected to one another at the outermost side edges thereof, said sleeve having an open end and a closed end, said closed end of said sleeve being folded outwardly upon itself about a single fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to said closed end thereof so as to form end wall panel means extending between said fold line and said closed end, and side wall forming panel means extending from said fold line to said open end, said end wall forming panel means having side edges secured with respect to each of said side wall forming panel means only at said outermost side edges thereof so as to secure said end wall panel means in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to said side wall panel means when said sleeve is in a knockeddown configuration.

2. A wrapper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is made from heat sealable material, said side edges of said end wall forming panel means being heat sealed to said side wall panel means.

3, A wrapper as claimed in claim 2 formed from a unitary blank.

4. A wrapper for bread and the like as claimed in claim 1 erected to a configuration wherein the portions of the sleeve lying along said fold line form the edges of a square end wall with triangular shaped segments of the end wall panel means secured to and extending in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to a pair of opposite sides of said sleeve.

5. A wrapper for bread and the like comprising a sleeve having a substantially rectangular end wall and side walls projecting upwardly from said end wall to an open end, a pair of triangular shaped segments projecting from a pair of oppositely disposed edges of said bottom panel and disposed in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to a pair of side wall panels, said triangular shaped segments being secured to said side walls along a seam line which bisects the angle formed between the diverging edges of said triangular sections.

1 6. A wrapper for bread and the like comprising a sleeve having a substantially rectangular end wall panel and side wall forming panel means extending outwardly from said end wall. a pair of triangular shaped segments of double thickness extending outwardly from opposite edges of said end wall in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to said side wall panel forming means, the outer thickness of said triangular segments being integrally connected to said end wall and the inner thickness being integrally connected to the outer thickness, each of waid triangular sections being secured to said side wall panel means in said outwardly overlying relationship along a seam line which bisects the angle formed between diverging side edges of said triangular sections.

7. A wrapper for bread and the like having a substantially square end wall configuration on erection comprising, a substantially rectangular blank formed from a heat scalable plastic material, said blank having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending side edges, a pair of transversely extending end edges, said blank being folded upon itself about a first transverse fold line intermediate the ends thereof said folded blank being further folded along a second transverse fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to said first parallel fold line to form a pair of end wall forming panels between said first fold line and said second fold line and a pair of side wall forming panels extending outwardly from said second fold line, said end wall forming panels being disposed in a face-to-face relationship with respect to said side wall forming panels, and the side edges of said side wall forming panels being heat sealed to one another and the side edges of said end wall forming panels being heat sealed to one another, and the side edges of said end wall forming panels being heat sealed to the adjacent side edges of the side wall forming panels so as to secure the end wall forming panels in said outwardly disposed face-to-faee relationship with respect to said side wall panels when the blank is in the knocked-down configuration.

8. A wrapper for bread andthe like having a generally square closed end wall configuration in use comprising a sleeve having an open end-and a closed end, the sleeve being folded outwardly upon itself about a fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to said closed end thereof so as to form endwall panel means extending between said fold line and said closed end, and side wall forming panel means extending'from said fold line to said open end, said end wall forming panel means having side edges secured to said side wall forming panel means so as to secure said end wall panel means in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to said side wall panel means when said sleeve is in a knocked-down configuration whereby upon loading, said sleeve will automatically assume a configuration wherein the portions of the sleeve lying along said fold line form the edges of a square end wall, and triangular shaped segments of the end wall panel means bounded by the side edges thereof, the fold line and lines extending from the secured inner end of the side edges of the end panels to points on the fold line at which the corners of the square end are formed in use. 

1. A wrapper for bread and the like having a generally square closed end wall configuration in use comprising, a sleeve consisting of a pair of panels disposed in face-to-face relationship and connected to one another at the outermost side edges thereof, said sleeve having an open end and a closed end, said closed end of said sleeve being folded outwardly upon itself about a single fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to said closed end thereof so as to form end wall panel means extending between said fold line and said closed end, and side wall forming panel means extending from said fold line to said open end, said end wall forming panel means having side edges secured with respect to each of said side wall forming panel means only at said outermost side edges thereof so as to secure said end wall panel means in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to said side wall panel means when said sleeve is in a knockeddown configuration.
 2. A wrapper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is made from heat sealable material, said side edges of said end wall forming panel means being heat sealed to said side wall panel means.
 3. A wrapper as claimed in claim 2 formed from a unitary blank.
 4. A wrapper for bread and the like as claimed in claim 1 erected to a configuration wherein the portions of the sleeve lying along said fold line form the edges of a square end wall with triangular shaped segments of the end wall panel means secured to and extending in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to a pair of opposite sides of said sleeve.
 5. A wrapper for bread and the like comprising a sleeve having a substantially rectangular end wall and side walls projecting upwardly from said end wall to an open end, a pair of triangular shaped segments projecting from a pair of oppositely disposed edges of said bottom panel and disposed in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to a pair of side wall panels, said triangular shaped segments being secured to said side walls along a seam line which bisects the angle formed between the diverging edges of said triangular sections.
 6. A wrapper for bread and the like comprising a sleeve having a substantially rectangular end wall panel and side wall forming panel means extending outwardly from said end wall, a pair of triangular shaped segments of double thickness extending outwardly from opposite edges of said end wall in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to said side wall panel forming means, the outer thickness of said triangular segments being integrally connected to said end wall and the inner thickness being integrally connected to the outer thickness, each of waid triangular sections being secured to said side wall panel means in said outwardly overlying relationship along a seam line which bisects the angle formed between diverging side edges of said triangular sections.
 7. A wrapper for bread and the like having a substantially square end wall configuration on erection comprising, a substantially rectangular blank formed from a heat sealable plastic material, said blank having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending side edges, a pair of transversely extending end edges, said blank being folded upon itself about a first transverse fold line intermediate the ends thereof said folded blank being further folded along a second transverse fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to said first parallel fold line to form a pair of end wall forming panels between said first fold line and said second fold line and a pair of side wall forming panels extending outwardly from said second fold line, said end wall forming panels being disposed in a face-to-face relationship with respect to said side wall forming panels, and the side edges of said side wall forming panels being heat sealed to one another and the side edges of said end wall forming panels being heat sealed to one another, and the side edges of said end wall forming panels being heat sealed to the adjacent side edges of the side wall forming panels so as to secure the end wall forming panels in said outwardly disposed face-to-face relationship with respect to said side wall panels when the blank is in the knocked-down configuration.
 8. A wrapper for bread and the like having a generally square closed end wall configuration in use comprising a sleeve having an open end and a closed end, the sleeve being folded outwardly upon itself about a fold line disposed adjacent and parallel to said closed end thereof so as to form end wall panel means extending between said fold line and said closed end, and side wall forming panel means extending from said fold line to said open end, said end wall forming panel means having side edges secured to said side wall forming panel means so as to secure said end wall panel means in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to said side wall panel means when said sleeve is in a knocked-down configuration whereby upon loading, said sleeve will automatically assume a configuration wherein the portions of the sleeve lying along said fold line form the edges of a square end wall, and triangular shaped segments of the end wall panel means bounded by the side edges thereof, the fold line and lines extending from the secured inner end of the side edges of the end panels to points on the fold line at which the corners of the square end are formed in use. 